Netbook computer continue to grow in popularity. The small trickle that began with the first netbook from Asus computers has now turned into a flood with netbooks available from every major manufacturer including HP, Dell, Lenovo, Toshiba, Asus, Acer, Sony, MSI, Samsung, Fujitsu and others. Many people are familiar with laptop computers and notebook computers but they are still trying to get a handle on just what a netbook computer is.
Laptop computer have come a long way from rather slow, heavy clamshell portables with small screens and cramped keyboards. Current laptops can be just as powerful as many current desktop computers, have LCD screens as large as 17" or more and with smaller screens they can weigh less than four pounds.
Notebook computers have always been one of those rather ambiguous entities. They are kind of like a laptop but not quite. They may use the same CPU as a laptop but they can also contain a lower powered CPU that increases battery life and decreases weight. Many people will use the notebook and laptop terms interchangeably. Some people will even refer to notebook laptops.
Traditionally the key differentiating factor has been weight. However as traditional laptops have become lighter and lighter even that line has begun to blur.
Enter netbook computers that are even smaller and lighter in weight than laptops or notebooks. However, unlike the gray area that exists between laptops and notebooks, the netbook has a clear point of differentiation - the CPU. Many Netbook computers currently use one of the Intel Atom CPUs that run at clock speeds of 1.33 GHz, 1.6 GHz or 1.86 GHz. Others netbooks use the Intel Core Solo or the Intel Celeron which both run at 1.66 GHz.
Another key area that sets netbook computers apart is their weight. The vast majority of netbook computers weigh less than 3 pounds with many weighing closer to 2.5 pounds. Part of this is due to smaller batteries that the lowered powered CPUs can use and some of the lighter weight is due to not having an optical drive (CD/DVD) in the computer.
The other key point of difference is the very obvious smaller size. While some manufacturers have made smaller laptop and notebook computers over the years most of those were just scaled down versions of the larger computers. Most of those smaller footprint laptops and notebooks rarely had an LCD screen size smaller than 12". Most netbooks computers have a screen size of 10.1" or smaller. The screen size is key to the overall smaller footprint of these computers.
So while there is still some confusion on the difference between and laptop and a notebook computer the netbook computer clearly sets itself apart. In the process these small, lightwieght systems have carved out a whole new niche in the portable computer world while also managing to put downward pressure on the price of traditional laptops systems.
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